~ Sunflower's notes ~

Oh my kitty cats! I can't believe that it has been ten months since my meowmy has allowed me to paw in my diary. None of us have been pawing much but ten months is way too long. We have had lots going on in our furmily with different sickly kitties and issues and my human grandmother has had lots of problems with her health and my pawrents have had furry full plates. I was not one of the sickly kitties, thank goodness.

We lost too many furiends during this time. They had to go the Bridge and we have been furry sad about it. Each furiend lives in our hearts but it was just too hard to visit Catster.

Another reason we have not written in our diaries is the changes in Catster. For us, the changes made Catster so slow that Meowmy has not found the time to work with us on our diaries. Many of our furiends were put in the kennel for their comments about different things and we did not care for the punishment that our furiends received. We love our furiends furry much and it made us furry sad that they were being punished.

I want to wish all my furiends and their humans a very Happy Valentine's Day! Sending much love to all of you.

Today, my meowmy had made plans with her special and longtime furiend. You see, Meowmy's furiend Daryle is one of the people she admires the most of anyone we know. Daryle was born with a condition of her eyes called Aniridia. Daryle's eyes were so bad that she was deemed legally blind with only some vision. As time went on, she lost more of her vision and had to go through several cornea transplants and even cataract surgery for the clouded lens. Daryle did NOT allow this to dampen her spirits. She was determined as she went through all of the surgeries to get her Master's Degree and took public transportation to UNC-Charlotte where she achieved this honor. Daryle became a counselor at a large local church and has become an inspiration to many. My meowmy is furry proud to be one of Daryle's furiends and they have had great fun with each other over the years. They (just Meowmy and Daryle) even took Daryle's two human children and three of my human siblings to Florida for almost a week on a furry limited budget. They saved so much money at Disney that they managed to squeeze two more nights in Daytona Beach. What a trip! Now, let me tell you that my meowmy and Daryle know how to squeeze blood out of a turnip when needed. Daryle has never given up and continues to wear her rose-colored glasses (Daryle's description of her view of life). Sadly, Daryle's vision is almost totally gone now and she basically sees only shades of greys. Meowmy says she doesn't know many people who would take the lemons that Daryle has been given and who could make such sweet lemonade. Daryle may have been given a little hope recently for some more vision with a doctor she found in Ohio who does artificial corneas. Daryle has had the limit of cornea transplants and has such scarring that nothing else can help her. My meowmy prays that this doctor can help her precious furiend.

Cocoa and his pawsome furmily sent me a blooming sunflower. They said, "Dear Sunflower~ We wanted to wish you a purrry Happy belated 6th Birthday and many more wonderful celebrations to come... You are a sweet furiend. So sorry fur being a little date. Love~ Cocoa & Co. xoxo"

Angel Zack and his sweet furmily sent me a blooming sunflower. They said, "Meow Sunflower! Happy Birthday one day late. We can't seem to get it together lately. Hope you had a pawsome day!Happy Birthday
Love, TWB"

You will all be happy to know that Meowmy did get the living room painted yesterday. However, the accent wall will require at least one more coat as it is a deep wine/merlot color. YIKES. Meowmy had as much paint on her as on the walls last night. Meowmy says we are on a schedule because we are getting two new furnaces and two new air conditioners on Wednesday and Thursday. Ours are furry old... maybe as old as my pawrents... no, nothing is that old! MOL. Three of the "items" are 37 years old and I KNOW my pawrents are at least as old as Methuselah. *looks around to see if her meowmy is about to snatch her furless*

Oh boy, oh joy! I am turning 6 today! I am catching up with Clawdette! She turned 6 on the 6th of April. It will be a pawsome day. My dad is almost finished with the caulking around the doors and windows and is finished with the "mudding" so today will be spent with my meowmy painting the living room and kitchen. Maybe I won't have to wear the birthday garb. Clawdette escaped the dressing up part... I hope I will be so lucky.

Yesterday, Kay sent me a delicious shrimpie. She said, "Happy Birthday Sunflower!! I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you on your special day. I hope you have a furtastic time! Happy Birthday, my friend!! Love your feline friend, Kay"

Today, Angel Wanda and her special and her precious furmily sent me a beautifur blooming sunflower. They said, "Happy Birthday!!!!! Hope you have a wonderful day celebrating! Love you always, Wanda, Norman and family"

Almost midnight EST ~

Well, finally Meowmy will allow me to post my birthday gifties. You see, Meowmy spent the whole day sanding my dad's "mudding" and "caulking" job in the living room so she could begin the task of painting it. That took until late in the day and I think Meowmy got as much paint on herself as she did on the walls. MOL.

Thank you so much to all of my special furiends who helped me celebrate my 6th birthday. You are all so wonderpurr to have thought of me in such sweet ways.

The effur adorable Hazel Lucy sent me a fun kite. She said, "Happy Birthday pretty Sunflower! You are just so cute and I hope you have a pawsome day! hugs, HL"

Baby-G and Little-One sent me a pink iced cupcake. They said, "Happy Birthday sweetie! We hope you had a pawsome day! Love, Baby-G and Be-Little xoxo"

Big Harry and his pawsome furmily sent me a fun kite. They said, "Have a purrfect birthday! Love, Purrs and Woofs!"

Riley and Skippy sent me a pretty pink ribbon. They said, "Happy Birthday Sunflower. Have a great day celebrating your birthday. Happy Purrs, Riley and Skippy"

Violet and his pawsome furmily sent me a lucky ladybug. They said, "It's your lucky day - it's your birthday! Sending happy birthday wishes from all of us and hoping your day is super special!"

Teebo and Callie sent me a beautifur blooming sunflower. They said, "Happy 6th Birthday Sunflower! We hope your day is as wonderful and special as you are. Purrs, Teebo and Callie"

Mercy and her lovely furmily sent me a birthday hat. "Happy Birthday, Sunflower! We are sure you are having a great day celebrating! Love, Mercy and family"

Casey and his sweet furmily sent me a yummy shrimp. They said, "Hi Sunflower: We wanted to wish you a very Happy 6th Meow Day! We hope it is filled with much love, gifts, treats, tuna b-day cake topped with catnip ice cream & balloons! Enjoy the shrimp & your special day! Love, Casey, Grace, Leo & Frankie"

Snowy and her lovely furmily sent me a beautifur rose. They said, "Happy 6th Birthday pretty Sunflower. Hope you have a wonderful day! Love Snowy & family xxxx"

Sweet Angel Mr. Sam and his pawsome furmily sent me a fun kite. They said, "Happy Birthday Sunflower!! I hope you are having a wonderful day filled with love and special treats!! Huggies, mr sam and his family"

Jobél and her sweet furmily sent me a lovely heart. They said, sunflowers
"Happy 6th Birthday Sunflower! Here's a painting we found that reminded us of you. Love, The Manxsters"

I want to wish ALL of my precious furiends a very Happy Easter! We had a lot of people over today and all of us kitties were locked away for our own safety. We weren't happy about it but Meowmy said it must be that way.

I want to let effuryone know that our Meowmy and Dad said we must tell all of you what good kitties we have been. You see.. on March 20th both of my pawrents got really sick. My meowmy did not get out of bed for two days except to go to see someone called John. My dad was the same. At first, they thought they had gotten food poisoning but they talked to Grandma and Aunt Barbara who had eaten the very same thing as my pawrents when they went out to eat on Saturday evening and neither one of them was sick. My pawrents both were hit with the problem about 3 AM. After finding out that they were the only ones affected, they decided that it was probably a virus. During the time that my pawrents were seriously affected, we were PURRfect angels. Normally, we do squabble daily and we are most demanding at food time. Not one of us did anything during the time our pawrents were so sick. My dad said that you never knew cats were in the house. My meowmy says she is so thankful that we were such good and caring furbabies.

Meowmy only ate crackers, toast, applesauce, jello and bananas and drank Pepsi or Coke when she finally ate on the third day. Those items were her only source of food until Friday (April 2nd). She just could not be around food. Meowmy says it is a lousy way to diet for sure. My dad started eating much sooner than that. My meowmy has a sluggish gallbladder that in past years has bothered her but it has been 4 or 5 years since her last spell... the sickness seemed to have triggered a really bad attack with her gallbladder on Monday the 29th. She was ready to go to the hospital one night this past week. Then, on Friday, things began to ease a little for her. We had planned this Easter gathering for a while now and Meowmy was determined not to let this spoil things. Dad was ready to call it off. Today turned out to be very special and the food was delicious and Meowmy ate. The only down side is that our air conditioner unit downstairs is NOT working and it is to be in or near the 90's. Not good timing weatherwise for a nonworking air conditioner.

Meowmy says she is happy to have things getting back to normal. She said she feels like she let our 90 year old furiend down as he has had to do most of the feeding of his cats since Meowmy got sick. She needs to help him with the litterbox duty and take Tiger in for bloodwork to see what his BUN and creatinine are doing. Tiger is 14 years old. If any of you who have had renal issues have any advice for Meowmy in helping with Tiger, please pmail her. Crawford loves Tiger and Tiger loves Crawford. Crawford is going blind and has a bad back. Even his surgery to cement his spine has not relieved all of his pain.

Prince was in the hospital for 3 days and 2 nights this week with a big hairball. Dr. Booker was able to break it up and move it out of his tummy. Cassidy had to go see Ene Ma again. Cassie says she does not like Ene Ma. So, now the plan for almost all of us is to get Laxatone twice weekly and 2 tablespoons of pumpkin when Meowmy can sneak it in on us. And, to make matters worse, our doc doc broke her ankle. So, it was a sickly week for our home and for our doc doc. We know there is a new dawning now... Easter has come! We are so thankful for the love we have been shown that was "written in red".

On March 26th, Sid and his furmily sent me a heart. They said, "Hi furriend! Can you help find a home for Benson? He's staying in a vet clinic and is listed as part of our furramily. He's such a nice kitty. Love from all of us!" I wish I could help but I don't know any families who want a handsome kitty. If any of you know someone, please contact the family of Benson.

I must apologize for few entries of late. Ever since November, Meowmy has had a full plate. *scratches head because the plate is actually empty* There has not been much time for our diaries. She has had little more than time to try to check daily to see if our furiends and loved ones have received honors. Meowmy has been busy with the holidays, at first, then illnesses in the human furmily, and helping care for other people's kitties. What? Pffftttt. Our furiend who is almost 90 has been unable to care for his three kitties and Meowmy has had to go over there daily to feed and water the kitties and change the litter. Our furiend's wife is in a nursing home and he had a bad back. He had pinched nerves from collapsing vertabrae. He had something injected last week to build up the area and lift the pressure and he is walking better but not able to care for his 14 year old cat who is showing signs of early renal problems. He has a cat who is about 7 or 8 who has a heart murmur and a calico who is about 6 years or so. Meowmy says he will soon have to find homes for his babies and it pains her heart. She is afraid that this man's son will take them to the pound and we all know what will happen if that takes place. It gives my meowmy lots of stress and worries.

Meowmy was caring for another three cats while their pawrents were on a 9 day cruise. Meowmy says she doesn't mind.

Tomorrow is my meowmy's birthday. I won't tell you how old she really is but let's say dirt is younger. MOL. Guess what my meowmy got for her birthday? She finally got her new kitchen countertops. She got granite and loves it already... even though the spigot can not be put in until tomorrow.

Meowmy has been busy stripping wallpaper for a long while now as time allows. Then my dad will patch the cracks from the foundation settling and then Meowmy is painting the walls. This will take months to complete. So, some of this is why Meowmy can't find the time for us to paw our diaries like we would like to do.

Today, Meowmy finally found out why we have NOT gotten Catster notices. It seems that her Catster notices are being bounced by Yahoo. Meowmy got in touch with Yahoo and it was determined that it is a Catster issue. So, Meowmy tried ALL day long to reach HQ and got the message. Late this evening she finally reached a human who told her to contact Catster via email. Hazel Lucy's meowmy had told my meowmy that is what would happen and had given Meowmy the email to do it. Pffffftttt. What next?

My sweet Jarvis and his furmily sent me a Mardi Gras Mask. They said, "Happy Mardi Gras! Our pawrents are on their way to New Orleans to celebrate. They will return on Thursday and we will be in touch then. Love and kisses, Jarvis, Tux & Cleo"

A special new furiend named Snowflake made his journey to the Bridge this afternoon. Snowflake had survived a serious surgery and was making progress, we thought. He took a turn for the worst yesterday. Actually, Wednesday, the vets noticed a decline and yesterday his heart rate was slow and his blood pressure was low. Today, he was even worse and his sad meowmy went to visit him, along with Auntie Barbi. His meowmy had to make the decision to allow him to go to the Bridge during the visit. Snowflake fought a very valiant battle to overcome his health issues. He was just so weak from everything he went through. Please keep Snowflake and his furmily in your purrs and prayers, especially his grieving meowmy.